Wrench



A. KIKTA WRENCH Aug. 19 1924.

Filed Dec. 4, 1923 INVENTOR.

A TTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 19, 1924.

PATENT OFFICE.

ALEX KIKTA, OF FLINT, MICHIGAN.

WRENCH.

Application filed December 4, 1923. Serial No. 678,472.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEX KIKTA, a citizen of the United States, residing at Flint, in the county of Genesee and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wrenches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a wrench designed primarily for the removing or tightening of screw threaded closure caps for jars or receptacles, but it is to be understood that a wrench, in accordance with this invention, can be employed for any purposes wherein it is found applicable, and the invention has for its object to provide, in the manner as hereinafter set forth, a. wrench including means for expeditiously removing or tightening a closure cap when occasion requires.

Further objects of the invention are to provide in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a wrench for the purpose referred to, which is simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, compact, thoroughly efficient and convenient in its use, readily assembled, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

"With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel con struction, combination and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which fall within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views Figure 1 is a side elevation of a wrench in accordance with this'invention, looking towards one side thereof.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, looking towards the other side thereof.

Figure 3 is a rear edge view of the wrench.

Figure 4: is a section on the line 4- 1 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a section on the line 55 of Figure 2.

A wrench in accordance with this invention comprises a handle member, a lever clamping member carried by and projecting from the lever member.

The handle member is constructed from a strip of sheet metal of substantial rigidity, of the desired length, and set up to form a head portion and a grip portion extending inwardly from the head portion.

The head portion consists of a pair of side walls 1, 2, a front wall 3, and a rear wall 4 of less length than the front wall 3. The side wall 1 is of materially less width than the side wall 2, and is disconnected from the rear wall 4, but terminates in the front wall 3. The front wall 3, as well as the rear wall 4, terminates at a point removed from the forward edge of the side walls 1 and 2. The forward terminus of the front wall 3 flares outwardly as at 5 and the forward terminus of the rear wall 4 flares outwardly as at 6. The flared portions 5 and 6 extend outwardly in opposite directions with respect to each other. The forward edge of the side wall 1, as well as the forward edge of the side wall 2, is arcuat'e in contour, as indicated at 7, and the forward edge of the side wall 1 is positioned in alinement with the forward edge of the side wall 2. The side wall 2 projects beyond the side edge of said wall 1, as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

The grip portion is of less width than the head portion and consists of a side wall 8, a side wall 9, and a front wall 10. The wall 8 forms a continuation of the wall 1, the wall 9 forms a continuation of the wall 2, and the wall 10 forms a continuation of the wall 3. The grip portion is substantially of the same width throughout.

The wall 8, as well as the wall 9, is provided with a lengthwise extending. slot 11, and with one sidewall of the slot corrugated or toothed as at 12. The toothed side walls of the slot 11 are arranged in alinement with each other and the alining gullets between the teeth or of the teeth, provide a fulcrum for the clamping lever in a manner as hereinafter referred to, and also the said toothed edges of the slot provide means whereby the clamping lever, to be presently referred to, can be adjustably positioned relative to the handle member of the wrench, that is to say, adjustably positioned lengthwise of the said handle member.

The clamping lever is formed from a strip of metallic material of substantial rigidity and which is bent upon itself to provide a pair of side walls 13, 14, and an outer wall 15. The side walls 13 and 14: are slit as at 17 and the material freed by the slits, as at 18, provides means for securing the flexible clamping jaw, to be presently referred to, to the clamping lever. Secured to the clamping lever in proximity to the forward inner corner thereof as well as pro ecting outwardly from each of the walls 13 and 14, 1s a pivot pin 19 which can be selectively seated in the alining gullets of the teeth 12 and which fulcrums on the walls of the alinlng gullets.

The flexible clamping member is constructed from a cord, rope or chain of substantial size and of substantial length, and as illustrated, the flexible clamping member is shown set up from a length of cord 20 of the desired diameter. The ends of the cord extend into the forward end of the clamping member and are secured therewith in any suitable manner, preferably by the inset portions 18 of the clamping lever.

Each forward corner of the handle of the wrench, or rather each forward corner of the head portion, is provided with an opening 21, see Figures 1 and 2, for the passage of the clamping member.

The flaring portions 5 and 6 provide seats for the clamping member when it is extended through the head and connected to the clamping levers as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The normal position of the clamping lever is to extend at an angle with respect to the handle of the wrench, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and it will be assumed that the clamping member has been extended around the closure cap, then by forcing the inner end of the clamping lever within the handle of the Wrench, the clamping member will be tightly secured to the cap, then by shifting the wrench as an entirety, the cap can be conveniently removed from the receptacle or tightened in position as desired.

The grip portion of the handle of the wrench, or rather of the shank of the wrench, is substantially U-shaped in cross section, so that the walls 8, 9, will be spaced from each other, thereby allowing for the clamping lever to be shifted between said walls when desired.

The rear end of the clamping lever may be constructed to provide a bottle cap remover, as indicated at 22.

The rear end of the handle member can be constructed to provide a bottle cap remover and prying device, and in this connection it will be stated that the wall 9 is offset as at 23 and secured thereto and projecting rearwardly therefrom is a prying device in the form of a knife and which coacts with the cut away portion 25 of the wall 9 to provide a bottle cap remover.

What I claim is 1. A wrench comprising a hollow handle .and projecting from member provided with a pair of opposed lengthwise extending spaced racks to provide a series of alining fulcrums, a clamping lever extending into said handle member and provided with a pivot detachably engaging with and operating on a pair of said alining fulcrums, and a shiftable clamping member formed of a length of flexible material having its ends connected to the forward end of said clamping lever to provide a loop extending through and projecting from the forward portion of said handle member.

2. A wrench comprising a hollow handle member provided with a pair of opposed lengthwise extending spaced racks to provide a series of alining fulcrums, a clamping lever extending into said handle member and provided with a pivot detachably engaging with and operating on a pair of said alining fulcrums, and a shiftable clamping member formed of a length of flexible material having its ends connected to the forward end of said clamping lever to provide a loop ex tending through and projecting from the forward portion of said handle member, said handle member having oppositely disposed seats for the clamping member, said seats arranged at the forward corners of the handle member.

3. A wrench comprising a hollow handle member provided with a pair of opposed lengthwise extending spaced racks to provide a series of alining fulcrums, a clamping lever extending into said handle member and provided with a pivot detachably engaging with and operating on a pair of said alining fulcrums, and a shiftable clamping member formed of a length of flexible material having its ends connected to the forward end of said clamping lever to provide a loop extending through the forward portion of said handle member, said handle member having oppositely disposed seats for the clamping member, said seats arranged at the forward corners of the handle member, and said handle member being slotted to provide for the positioning of the pivots of the clamping lever.

4. A wrench comprising a hollow handle member provided with a pair of opposed flexible material having its ends connected to the forward end of said clamping lever to provide a loop extending through and projecting from the forward portion of said handle member, said clamping lever having inherent means for connecting said elamp ing member therewith.

5. A wrench comprising a hollow handle member provided with a pair of opposed lengthwise extending spaced racks to pro vide aseries of alining fulcrums, a clamping lever extending into said handle member and provided with a pivot detachnbly engaging with and operating on a pair of said alining fulcrums, and a shiftable clamping member formed of a, length of flexible material having its ends connected to the forward .end of said 'clamping lever to provide a loop extending through and projecting from the forward portion of said handle member, said handle member having oppositely disposed seats for the clamping member, said seats arranged at the forward corners of the handle member, and said handle member being slotted to provide for the positioning of the pivotsof the clamping lever, and said clam ing lever having inherent means for securing said clamping member therewith. I 1

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature hereto. I

ALEX KIKTA. 

